The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal…

The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal resources, sustains biological communities on the lands and waters in parks, and actively endeavors to improve the resiliency of these natural resources and adapt them to the effects of climate change. To carry out and further this stewardship responsibility, NPS implements programs that encompass a broad range of research, operational, and educational activities by utilizing park personnel and contractor support or page 4 of 4 cooperative agreements. The goal of this project is to assist sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore (slbe) in providing hands-on educational experiences to school groups about the nearshore health of the great lakes ecosystem. Educators have previously identified bus transportation funding as a barrier to participating in onsite educational programs at slbe. Through funding provided by the great lakes restoration initiative (glri), the friends of sleeping bear dunes (fsbd) will act as a pass-through to pay invoices from school transportation departments, thereby removing this funding barrier and broadening the reach of this educational opportunity. Fsbd will work with slbe interpretive staff who will review and approve invoices for reimbursement.beneficiaries include the general public.